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Cheating case against Praful

Betul (MP), June 30
A local court has registered a case of cheating against Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel and eight partners of his company in a land sale matter and asked them to be present before it on July 29.

In his order, Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) Siraj Ali yesterday said, "Prima facie, it appears that the accused had indulged in cheating and, therefore, cognisance against them is being taken under Section 420 of the IPC."

The NCP leader's Chotta Bhai Jetha Bhai Patel and Company had allegedly sold 17,000 hectares of land to two different parties seven years ago in Betul, according to the complaint filed with the JMFC's court by Navneet Garg.

The company sold the land situated on the National Highway 69 to Garg on June 19, 2003, after selling it to Ashok Dixit on June 11, 2003, he alleged, adding that the market value of the property was more than Rs 2 crore now.

Garg said he approached the JMFC after the police allegedly did not register a case against Patel and others.

Praful Patel, Arvind Bhai Patel, Harshad Patel, Dipak Patel, Kiran Patel, Shailesh Patel, Kaushal Patel, Ishwar Bhai Patel and Messr Chotta Bhai Jetha Bhai Patel and company had been made the parties in the case, he said.

The court served notices on the nine accused asking them to be present in the court on July 29.

A spokesperson for Praful Patel said: "There is absolutely no truth in the allegations. The complainant had already mentioned before the police that there would be no complaint against Praful Patel." The spokesperson also said: "The transacted value of the land was approximately Rs 2 lakh". — PTI